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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

bridge

English answer:

extra day's holiday between an official public holiday and a weekend

Added to glossary by Charles Davis
Oct 22, 2011 18:51
12 yrs ago
5 viewers *
English term

bridge

English Social Sciences Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
Please explain the meaning of "bridge" in the following phrases:

New Year's Day (bridge)
Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice (bridge)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Day (bridge)
Labor Day (bridge)
Flag Day (bridge)
Independence Day (bridge)


Thank you in advance,
Maya
Responses
4 +7 extra day's holiday between an official public holiday and a weekend
Change log

Oct 24, 2011 05:16: Charles Davis Created KOG entry

Discussion

Maya Gorgoshidze (asker) Oct 22, 2011:
Hi Charles, Thank you for your quick help!!!
Charles Davis Oct 22, 2011:
Hi Maya The Anniversary of the (1810) May Revolution is also known the Day of the First National Government (Primer Gobierno Patrio in Spanish). It is indeed another "bridge" holiday in Argentina. See the Wikipedia page cited in my answer.
Maya Gorgoshidze (asker) Oct 22, 2011:
No more context, unfortunately No, not card day. This is a very long list of holydays, like this:

Christmas Eve
New Year's Eve
Anniversary of the May Revolution (bridge)
New Year's Day (Observed)
and so on
Martin Riordan Oct 22, 2011:
With no context about these terms, it is impossible to give a meaningful answer. It could refer to the card game called bridge, to be played on these days. But with no context, who knows?

Responses

+7
9 mins
Selected

extra day's holiday between an official public holiday and a weekend

This is a literal translation of the Spanish term "puente". If a public holiday, such as those listed in the question, falls on a Tuesday, for example, the "puente" or bridge means that people take the Monday off as well, making a "bridge" between the weekend and the public holiday and producing a longer break. If it's on the Thursday, the "bridge" means you take Friday off as well.

It's a standard custom in Hispanic countries, and that is the relevant context: "Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice" (Día Nacional de la Verdad y la Justicia) and "Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Day" show that this refers to Argentina

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Note added at 12 mins (2011-10-22 19:04:00 GMT)
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See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Argentina for the dates. All the holidays mentioned have the following note:
"² Turistic holiday bridge: If the date of a non-movable holiday falls on Tuesday or Thursday, an extra holiday is added on the previous Monday or the following Friday, respectively."
Peer comment(s):
agree Claudia Luque Bedregal : Sï, en Latinoamérica hacemos muchos puentes :-D // an aqueduct, that's funny :-)
14 mins
In Spain too. The joke here is that if December 6 (Constitution Day) falls on a Tuesday and December 8 (the Inmaculada) on a Thursday, we have an "aqueduct" and take the whole week off! Gracias, Claudia :)
agree Jenni Lukac (X)
21 mins
Thanks, Jenni. Have a good Sunday :)
agree Martin Riordan : Well researched! In Brazil, "feriadão". They aren´t official but are very popular, especially with those whose salaries don´t suffer a reduction...
40 mins
Thanks, Martin! How official they are in Spain is a bit of a grey area; they seem to be more thoroughly institutionalised in Latin America
agree Abouzar Oraki : Very nice definition
1 hr
Many thanks, oraki !
agree eski : Por supuesto: A Mexican 'classic'! :)) eski
3 hrs
Thanks, eski :) Great institution, the puente! Saludos
agree Cilian O'Tuama : That's the meaning alright, IMO. But do we use the word "bridge" to describe this concept in English? They do in German, and Spanish apparently.
6 hrs
Thanks, Cilian :) I don't think we do use the term in English. I took it to be a calque of the Spanish term (in this case).
agree Jocelyne S : The same applies to the French expression "faire le pont".
21 hrs
Thank you, Jocelyne! I must admit I had forgotten that the same expression existed in French.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks a lot!!!"
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